A new year, a fresh set of gaming anniversaries to celebrate! 2020 was a challenging year and gaming certainly helped keep us connected and engaged. As we step into what will hopefully be a more normal year, there is a lot in store to celebrate! We’ve compiled a list of key dates for 2021 video game anniversaries – there are a lot!
2021 video game anniversaries – Game Highlights
2021 will be the milestone year for a lot of fan favourites! The Legend of Zelda and Metroid celebrate 35 years of heroics, joined by the Pokémon 25th anniversary! 2021 also sees the 30th anniversary of Street Fighter II, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lemmings and F-Zero too!
Other 2021 video game anniversaries include the 25th anniversary of Super Mario RPG and the Resident Evil series. Two very different games, released the same year! Other quarter century contenders include Quake, Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot .
2021 video game anniversaries – Console Highlights
It’s not just about the games, as the 2021 video game anniversaries also include timeless consoles! The 25th anniversary of the launch of the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Pocket , plus the 30th anniversary of the SNES in the US. More recent console releases include the 15th anniversaries of the Wii and the PlayStation 3 , too!
January
09 Jan
Electroplankton (DS)
15th
10 Jan
Mega Man X Collection (Multi)
15th
17 Jan
Ape Escape 3 (PS2)
15th
17 Jan
Mass Effect 2 (Multi)
10th
18 Jan
LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3)
10th
22 Jan
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS)
5th
25 Jan
Guardian Heroes (Sat)
25th
25 Jan
Dead Space 2 (Multi)
10th
28 Jan
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (Wii U)
5th
29 Jan
Duke Nukem 3D (PC)
25th
31 Jan
Mega Man X3 (SNES)
25th
February
01 Feb
id Software founded
30th
06 Feb
Street Fighter II (Arcade)
30th
07 Feb
Tales of Legendia (PS2)
15th
07 Feb
The Rub Rabbits! (DS)
15th
09 Feb
Firewatch (Multi)
5th
09 Feb
Bahamut Lagoon (SNES)
25th
14 Feb
Lemmings (Multi)
30th
14 Feb
State of Emergency 2 (PS2)
15th
19 Feb
Fire Emblem Fates (3DS)
5th
21 Feb
The Legend of Zelda (NES)
35th
21 Feb
Famicom Disk System released in Japan
35th
21 Feb
Sonic Riders (Multi)
15th
22 Feb
Killzone 3 (PS3)
10th
26 Feb
Stardew Valley (Multi)
5th
26 Feb
Nintendo 3DS released in Japan
10th
27 Feb
Pokémon Red and Green (GB)
25th
27 Feb
Zelda: Oracle of Ages / Seasons (GB)
20th
28 Feb
Black (Multi)
15th
28 Feb
Dungeons & Dragons Online (PC)
15th
29 Feb
Civilization II (PC)
25th
29 Feb
Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri (PC)
25th
29 Feb
Ripper (PC)
25th
February
Defender (Arcade)
40th
Febuary
Scramble (Arcade)
40th
March
05 Mar
Conker’s Bad Fur Day (N64)
20th
06 Mar
Pokémon Black and White (DS)
10th
06 Mar
Pokémon Trozei! (N64)
15th
08 Mar
Dragon Age II (Multi)
10th
09 Mar
Super Mario RPG (SNES)
25th
13 Mar
Descent II (PC)
25th
15 Mar
Pro Evolution Soccer (PS1)
20th
15 Mar
Total War: Shogun 2 (PC)
10th
16 Mar
Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
15th
18 Mar
Pokkén Tournament (Wii U)
5th
20 Mar
Metroid Prime Hunters (DS)
15th
20 Mar
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
15th
21 Mar
Kirby Super Star (SNES)
25th
21 Mar
Serious Sam (Multi)
20th
21 Mar
Super Mario Advance (GBA)
20th
21 Mar
Game Boy Advanced released in Japan
20th
22 Mar
Resident Evil (PS1)
25th
22 Mar
Crysis 2 (Multi)
10th
25 Mar
Nintendo 3DS released in Europe
10th
26 Mar
Ubisoft founded (as Ubi Soft)
35th
26 Mar
Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64)
20th
27 Mar
Nintendo 3DS released in Europe
10th
28 Mar
Oculus Rift Released
5th
29 Mar
Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension (SNES)
25th
30 Mar
Black & White (PC)
20th
March
Neverwinter Nights (PC)
30th
April
05 Apr
Quantum Break (Multi)
5th
05 Apr
HTC Vive Released
5th
06 Apr
Pokemon Gold & Silver (GB) – Europe
20th
08 Apr
Dr. Mario 64 (N64)
20th
10 Apr
Odama (GC)
15th
11 Apr
Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble (GBA)
20th
11 Apr
Tomb Raider: Legend (Multi)
15th
12 Apr
Dark Souls III (Multi)
5th
12 Apr
The Simpsons Wrestling (PS1)
20th
13 Apr
Project Justice (DC)
20th
14 Apr
Mysterious Murasame Castle (Famicom)
25th
14 Apr
Animal Crossing (GC)
20th
17 Apr
Brain Age (DS)
15th
18 Apr
Stephen’s Sausage Roll (PC)
5th
19 Apr
Portal 2 (Multi)
10th
20 Apr
Barbie Fashion Designer (PC)
25th
20 Apr
Ōkami (PS2)
15th
20 Apr
Mother 3 (GBA)
15th
22 Apr
Star Fox Zero (Wii U)
5th
22 Apr
Armadillo Run (PC)
15th
24 Apr
Rampage: Total Destruction (Multi)
15th
24 Apr
Black & White 2: Battle of the Gods (PC)
15th
25 Apr
Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny (PS2)
15th
28 Apr
Guild Wars: Factions
15th
May
01 May
GameSpot website launched
25th
06 May
The Shadow of Yserbius (PC)
30th
07 May
Mario Party 3 (N64)
20th
10 May
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
5th
14 May
Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu (SNES)
25th
15 May
New Super Mario Bros (DS)
15th
16 May
Heroes of Might and Magic V (PC)
15th
16 May
Terraria (Multi)
10th
17 May
L.A. Noire (Multi)
10th
17 May
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (Multi)
10th
22 May
Red Faction (PS2)
20th
23 May
Monster Hunter Freedom (PSP)
15th
24 May
Overwatch (Multi)
5th
24 May
Metal Slug (Neo)
25th
27 May
Dragon Quest (NES)
35th
31 May
Final Doom (PC)
25th
May
Bungie founded
30th
June
01 Jun
Battletoads (NES)
30th
01 Jun
Half-Life 2: Episode One (PC)
15th
03 Jun
Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels (NES)
35th
06 Jun
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PS2)
15th
07 Jun
Infamous 2 (PS3)
10th
11 Jun
Game Boy Advance released in the US
20th
11 Jun
Nintendo DS Lite released in the US
15th
16 Jun
Majesco founded
35th
22 Jun
Quake (PC)
25th
22 Jun
Game Boy Advance released in Europe
20th
23 Jun
Sonic the Hedgehog (MD/Genesis)
30th
23 Jun
Nintendo 64 released (Japan)
25th
23 Jun
Super Mario 64 (N64)
25th
23 Jun
Nintendo DS Lite released in Europe
15th
23 Jun
Sonic Adventure 2 (DC)
20th
26 Jun
Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
10th
27 Jun
Shining Wisdom (SAT)
25th
28 Jun
Bethesda founded
35th
28 Jun
Bomberman II (NES)
30th
29 Jun
Inside (Multi)
5th
29 Jun
Final Fantasy Chronicles (PS1)
20th
June
Frogger (Arcade)
40th
July
01 Jul
Duke Nukem (PC)
30th
05 Jul
NiGHTS into Dreams (SAT)
25th
06 Jul
Pokémon GO (Mobile)
5th
09 Jul
Donkey Kong (Arcade)
40th
12 Jul
Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge (GB)
30th
19 Jul
Final Fantasy IV (SNES)
30th
19 Jul
Saturn Bomberman (SAT)
25th
19 Jul
Star Ocean (SNES)
25th
19 Jul
Final Fantasy X (PS2)
20th
19 Jul
Limbo (PS3)
10th
21 Jul
Game Boy Pocket released
25th
21 Jul
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA)
20th
29 Jul
Pokémon Crystal
20th
31 Jul
Playchoice-10 (Arcade)
25th
July
Araknoid (Arcade)
35th
August
01 Aug
Golden Sun (GBA)
20th
02 Aug
Xbox One S released
5th
02 Aug
Streets of Rage (MD/Genesis)
30th
06 Aug
Metroid (NES)
35th
09 Aug
No Man’s Sky (Multi)
5th
15 Aug
Starflight (PC)
35th
19 Aug
Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)
10th
21 Aug
Wario Land 4 (GBA)
20th
23 Aug
SNES released in the US
30th
23 Aug
Super Mario World (SNES)
30th
23 Aug
F-Zero (SNES)
30th
23 Aug
Devil May Cry (PS2)
20th
23 Aug
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Multi)
10th
24 Aug
Valve founded
25th
25 Aug
Tekken 2 (PS1)
25th
31 Aug
Die Hard Trilogy (Multi)
25th
31 Aug
Tetris Attack (Multi)
25th
September
01 Sep
NES Open Tournament Golf
30th
06 Sep
Shenmue II (DC)
20th
06 Sep
Resistance 3 (PS3)
10th
09 Sep
Star Fox 64 3D (3DS)
10th
09 Sep
Crash Bandicoot (PS1)
25th
10 Sep
Advance Wars (GBA)
20th
11 Sep
Driver: San Francisco (Multi)
10th
12 Sep
Adventure Island (NES)
35th
14 Sep
GameCube released in Japan
20th
14 Sep
Luigi’s Mansion (GC)
20th
14 Sep
Super Monkey Ball (GC)
20th
15 Sep
Persona 5 (PS4)
5th
15 Sep
PlayStation 4 Slim Released
5th
16 Sep
Dragon Quest VII
5th
20 Sep
Outrun (Arcade)
35th
20 Sep
Gears of War 3 (360)
10th
22 Sep
Dark Souls (Multi)
10th
24 Sep
Ico (PS2)
20th
24 Sep
Silent Hill 2 (PS2)
20th
26 Sep
Castlevania (NES – FDS)
35th
26 Sep
Pilotwings 64 (N64)
25th
27 Sep
Forza Horizon 3 (Xbox One)
5th
28 Sep
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (DS)
15th
29 Sep
Nintendo 64 Released (US)
25th
30 Sep
Wipeout XL/2097 (PS1)
25th
30 Sep
Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Multi)
25th
30 Sep
Donkey Kong Land 2 (GB)
25th
September
Galaga (Arcade)
40th
September
Wizadry (Apple II)
40th
September
Castle Wolfenstein (Apple II)
40th
September
Bubble Bobble (Arcade)
35th
September
SEGA Master System released in the US
35th
September
Starblade (Arcade)
30th
September
Road Rash (MD/Genesis)
30th
September
Virtua Fighter 3 (Arcade)
25th
October
07 Oct
Mafia III (Multi)
5th
07 Oct
Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U)
5th
10 Oct
Mortal Kombat Trilogy (Multi)
25th
11 Oct
Forza Motorsport 4 (360)
10th
13 Oct
PlayStation VR Released
5th
14 Oct
Mario the Juggler (G&W)
30th
17 Oct
Professor Layton and the Last Specter (DS)
10th
18 Oct
Batman: Arkham City (Multi)
10th
22 Oct
Grand Theft Auto III (PS2)
20th
24 Oct
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land (Wii)
10th
24 Oct
Virtua Tennis 2 (DC)
20th
25 Oct
Battlefield 3 (Multi)
10th
26 Oct
Pikmin (GC)
20th
28 Oct
Titanfall 2 (Multi)
5th
29 Oct
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (Multi)
20th
30 Oct
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (PS2)
20th
30 Oct
Civilization III (PC)
20th
31 Oct
Pandemonium! (Multi)
25th
31 Oct
Soul Reaver 2 (Multi)
20th
November
01 Nov
Wave Race 64 (N64)
25th
01 Nov
Burnout (PS2)
20th
01 Nov
Dragon Warrior VII
20th
01 Nov
Sonic Generations (Multi)
10th
01 Nov
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PS3)
10th
03 Nov
Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
10th
05 Nov
SSX Tricky (Multi)
20th
06 Nov
Elite Beat Agents (DS)
15th
07 Nov
Guitar Hero II (Multi)
15th
07 Nov
Gears of War (360)
15th
08 Nov
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Multi)
10th
09 Nov
Project Gotham Racing (Xbox)
20th
10 Nov
PlayStation 4 Pro Released
5th
10 Nov
Medieval II: Total War (PC)
15th
11 Nov
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
10th
13 Nov
Yoshi’s Island DS
15th
13 Nov
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2)
20th
15 Nov
Watch Dogs 2 (Multi)
5th
15 Nov
Tomb Raider (Multi)
25th
15 Nov
Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox)
20th
15 Nov
Xbox Released in the US
20th
15 Nov
Saints Row: The Third
10th
15 Nov
Rayman Origins
10th
17 Nov
PS3 released in the US
15th
18 Nov
Pokémon Sun & Moon
5th
18 Nov
GameCube released in the US
20th
18 Nov
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II (GC)
20th
18 Nov
Zelda: Skyward Sword
10th
19 Nov
Return to Castle Wolfenstein (PC)
20th
19 Nov
Wii released in the US
15th
19 Nov
Wii Sports
15th
19 Nov
Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
15th
20 Nov
Sonic 3D Blast (Multi)
25th
21 Nov
Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
30th
21 Nov
Super Smash Bros. Melee (GC)
20th
22 Nov
Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES)
25th
22 Nov
Command & Conquer: Red Alert (PC)
25th
22 Nov
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas (Multi)
15th
23 Nov
Tamagotchi released in Japan
25th
25 Nov
Killer Instinct Gold (N64)
25th
26 Nov
Dead or Alive (Arcade)
25th
29 Nov
Final Fantasy XV (Multi)
5th
30 Nov
Fighting Vipers (Arcade)
25th
30 Nov
Virtua Cop 2 (Arcade)
25th
November
Another World (Amiga)
30th
November
Metroid II: Return of Samus (GB)
30th
November
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge
30th
December
01 Dec
SEGA Mega CD Released in Japan
30th
01 Dec
Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
10th
03 Dec
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2)
20th
04 Dec
Super Castlevania IV (SNES)
30th
06 Dec
Mega Man 4 (NES)
30th
08 Dec
Wii released in Europe
15th
10 Dec
SSX Tricky (Multi)
20th
12 Dec
Max Payne (XBox)
20th
13 Dec
Tecmo Super Bowl (NES)
30th
14 Dec
Yoshi (NES)
30th
14 Dec
Mario Kart 64 (N64)
25th
16 Dec
Civilization (PC)
30th
19 Dec
Kid Icarus (NES)
35th
December
Jump Bug (Arcade)
40th
December
Rolling Thunder (Arcade)
35th